Racism

Racism is the process in which people are assessed in homogeneous groups, classified in hierarchies and ostracized on the basis of actual or alleged physical or cultural characteristics, e.g. skin color, origin, language, religion (cf. “Rassismus” in IDA-NRW). Traditional racism is based on the assumption that certain groups of people are less valuable than others based on alleged biological differences. This is connected to the scientifically untenable and obsolete allegation that there are different human ‘races’ (cf. “Rasse” in IDA-NRW). Being White or non-White is therefore a political and social construction. The term neo-racism no longer focuses on biological determination but rather on insurmountable cultural differences. People are separated into closed and clearly defined collectives whose culture is connected to a certain geographical space (cf. “Neorassismus” in IDA-NRW)

Racism may take one of the following forms:

• Anti-Asian racism became particularly apparent during the COVID-19 pandemic, when people perceived as Asian experienced verbal and physical violence, as well as becoming ostracized. However, this type of racism is nothing new and has a longer history in Germany, with its negative stereotypes still having an effect today (cf. Amadeu Antonio Stiftung).
• Anti-Muslim racism
• In Anti-Black racism, Black people are considered inferior to White people and ostracized. This type of racism is directly linked to European colonization and served as justification for genocide, slavery, exploitation, rape and the violent suppression of people from these areas during the colonization of the African continent. The racist stereotypes from these times are still widespread in Germany today. Instead of the politically acceptable terms used by people in the communities themselves such as Black or BIPoC (short for Black people, Indigenous people and people of color), racist terms coined by others continue to be used in everyday language or, for example, as names for streets, bus stops or pharmacies (cf. Amadeu Antonio Foundation).
• Anti-Slavic racism (for more information see “Antislawischer Rassismus” in IDA-NRW)
• Anti-Tsiganism

All types of racism have in common the fact that those affected are subjected to structural, societal, interactional and intersectional discrimination in their everyday lives. As a result of racism, they may experience mental, verbal, sexualized and physical violence. Exoticizing, a form of othering, often leads to the sexualization of BIPoC, and affects people perceived as male and female alike. The refusal of White people to recognize the racism experienced by BIPoC or to face up to claims of being racist is another example of a discriminating mechanism known as secondary racism (cf. “Sekundärer Rassismus” in IDA-NRW).

At Friedrich-Alexander Universität, Harriet Ziegler is the point of contact for advice in the event of discrimination. Pursuant to Section 6 of the guidelines, she is one of the first points of contact and can provide those affected with initial or referral advice. In 2024, the FAU network Mosaic – Community of PoC, was established, aimed at all staff at FAU affected by experiences of racism within the context of their tasks at the university and in their daily lives with the objective of creating a safer space in the form of monthly, informal meetings.

Sources: Amadeu Antonio Foundation; IDA-NRW